The purpose of the BRAVO Study is to understand what causes different types of breast cancer. It will include women who have experienced breast cancer, from age 20 to age 69, living in Washington state and New Mexico.

We hope the results of this study will help improve the health of all women with breast cancer.

Who is being asked to participate?

Our goal is to enroll over 1,950 women who have experienced breast cancer, from age 20 to age 69, in the Puget Sound area. The BRAVO Study will also include about 890 women who had breast cancer from the greater Albuquerque area in New Mexico.

Why is participation important?

Studies like this compare information from people who have a particular disease to those who do not. This type of research allows us to identify what specific characteristics or exposures may increase a woman’s risk of different types of breast cancer.

Each woman invited to participate in the BRAVO Study is incredibly valuable. Since we are unable to interview every woman diagnosed with breast cancer, participants serve as a representative for many other women just like them. The more women who accept invitations to participate, the more helpful this research will be in answering why some women develop breast cancer. Participation by every woman invited is vital to the BRAVO Study.

What does participation in the BRAVO Study involve?

A Fred Hutch interviewer will call women who agree to participate in the BRAVO Study to arrange a telephone interview at a convenient time, including evenings and weekends. Prior to the interview, a packet of materials that will help with the interview process will be mailed to participants.

The interviewer will ask about medical history, breast cancer treatments, lifestyle and family cancer history. The interview usually takes about 40 minutes; participants may refuse to answer any question or may stop the interview at any time.

At the end of the interview, the interviewer will ask about participating in some additional parts of the study that are optional. This will take another 15-20 minutes. For example, the interviewer will ask if participants are willing to provide a small cell sample from the inside of their mouth that we can use to study genes that may be related to breast cancer risk. Providing the cell sample is a simple, painless procedure that involves spitting into a small container that we will provide. Participants do not need to agree to provide a cell sample in order to participate in this study.

Is information kept confidential?

Absolutely. Interviews will only be identified by a number. All the information provided will be kept strictly confidential, and will only be used for research to increase our knowledge of breast cancer.

The funding for this study was provided by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI).